User Profiles
The Materials Characterisation and Surface Analysis at Cranfield University
Headed
by: Dr. Sue Impey
Cranfield is a wholly postgraduate university with an international community and truly global reputation. Their mission is to transform knowledge into ingenious solutions in science, technology and management places us at the forefront of some of the world’s most practical, cutting-edge projects. Their focus is on applied research and developing industry’s future engineers, managers, consultants and entrepreneurs.
The Materials Characterisation and Surface Analysis team is part of the School of Applied Sciences at Cranfield, which focuses on applying leading edge scientific research to industrial and commercial applications in the key areas of manufacturing, materials, natural resources and sustainable systems.
The Cranfield materials characterisation team support a wide range of research conducted within five groups:
- Composites Centre
- Precision Engineering Centre
- Microsystems and Nanotechnology Centre
- Surface Science and Engineering Centre
- Welding Engineering Research Centre
The Surface Science and Engineering Centre incorporates the National High Temperature Surface Engineering Centre which is a key partner in the Rolls-Royce University Technology Partnership in surface engineering. Research is funded by EPSRC, DERA, CEC and Industry in the areas of:
- PVD, CVD coating and plasma spray (LVPS) coating
- EBPVD thermal barrier coatings
- high temperature oxidation/corrosion, erosion and wear testing
- coating characterisation and evaluation
- life prediction modelling.
Materials Characterisation and surface analysis research focuses on investigating microstructure and composition that are fundamental to the properties and performance of materials. These can vary through the thickness or section and surface properties are often very difficult from bulk. This can have significant consequences for lifetime and performance of materials. It is important to study these materials in environments that are as close to their working conditions as possible. Cranfield University has considerable experience of working with the NanoTest at elevated temperatures.
The Materials Characterisation and Surface Analysis team at Cranfield can offer a fully integrated analytical service to industry for materials investigation, focusing on such issues as quality and control, process, yield and materials optimisation and failure analysis.
For further detail see www.cranfield.ac.uk/sas/materials
